Overview of the 12th Aero-India 2019 held in Bangalore

Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 12th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition, the Aero India 2019 on 24th February 2019 at the Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru.The event was organized by the Defence Ministry of India, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Air Force, Department of Space and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.

Key points

• This edition of Aero India, for the first time, combined the defence and civil aviation segments into a holistic event with the co-involvement of the defence and civil aviation ministries in the event.
• More than 600 Indian Companies and 200 Foreign Companies participated and witnessed the largest Air show of Asia.
• The theme of the event was “‘Runway to a Billion Opportunities”.The logo of the exhibition was inspired by the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

India and Singapore sign agreement for skilling Indians in aviation

• National Skill Development Corporation of India’s (NSDC) Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council in collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic and Singapore-based private sector firm signed an agreement for skilling the Indian youths in the aviation sector by setting up academies in Bengaluru that will be the regional hubs for the training the youth for domestic and overseas jobs in aviation.
• These ‘Centers of Excellence in Advance Skilling‘ will provide training and certification drawing from Singapore curriculum and standards in sectors such as aerospace and aviation, emerging technologies, automotive and logistics.
• This is done under the  ‘Skill India‘ and ‘Make in India‘ programmes, which require large workforce with advanced technical skills.

Cyient-BlueBird JV launches new unmanned aerial system

• Cyient Solutions & Systems, a joint venture between Hyderabad-based Cyient Ltd and BlueBird Aero Systems of Israel, launched “WanderB vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)” unmanned aerial system for land and maritime operations that can operate in strong winds and harsh weather conditions.
• It is equipped with 2 batteries and overcomes take-off and landing space limitations.
• Its advanced operational capabilities make it a versatile solution for military, peacekeeping, low-intensity conflict resolution, law enforcement, disaster management and commercial applications.
• It offers high operational availability of two-and-a-half hours and has a mission range of 50 km (extendable up to 80 km).

PV Sindhu became the first woman to co-pilot Tejas

• Indian badminton player and Olympic silver-medallist PV Sindhu co-piloted the indigenously made combat fighter jet “Tejas”at the Aero India 2019  as part of the Women’s Day observed at the air show, becoming the first ever woman to co-pilot Tejas.
• The Women’s Day showcased women’s achievements in the aerospace sector, and an all-women crew flew Dornier and Avro aircraft and participated in panel discussions.
• 3 women Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots also flew the Hawk-I advanced jet trainer of BAE Systems (England) and an upgraded version of the Russian-made MiG-21.

Third day of Aero India 2019 observed as Technology Day

• Aero India 2019 observed “Technology Day” on the third day.
• The Indian National Academy of Engineering held a knowledge seminar on Regional Technology Aircraft offering engineering students the information available in India and abroad about skills in the Aviation sector.
• Spectacular air display by Aircrafts in the Air force base in Bengaluru made a statement of their capabilities in the sky.
• The Light Utility helicopter and LCA Naval version, besides foreign aircrafts from USA, France, Russia took to the skies during the aerobatic display.
• The Navratna PSU Bharat Electronics Limited has entered into MOU with Bharat Forge for a strategic co-operation in the field of aerospace products.

Aero India 2019 celebrated Women power in field of Defence Aviation

• Aero India 2019 is celebrated the successful women professionals in the field of Defence Aviation.
• A seminar was organised where the successful professionals from the field of Aviation and defence spoke on how they succeeded in establishing themselves in the professions dominated by men.
• Dr. Tessy Thomas, Director General(Aero) in DRDO, shared her experience as the Project Director of Agni missile programme.
• Captain Harpreet Singh, the first and only Lady Chief of Flight Safety, working as the Executive Director of Air India, shared her experience as the first Lady Ground instructor of pilots.
• v.Captain Aprajeeta Sharma, a paratrooper in the Indian army, who created a Limca Book of Record by performing yoga at the highest point on Mount Bhagirathi as part of the Indian Army Women Officer mountaineering expedition, talked about the leadership skills that helped her excel at challenges.

Maiden Drone Olympics Competition held at Aero India 2019

• A major highlight of the Aero India 2019, was the first-ever “Drone Olympics” for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in which national and international players demonstrated their potential.
• More than 120 applications were received for the event, out of which  57 applicants who were found suitable and were invited to participate.
• The competition saw a number of innovative solutions and use of the latest technological advancements by the participants and the winners of each competition were honoured with medals and cash prizes.
• The winners of the competition are invited to demonstrate the best of human machine interaction during Lockheed Martin’s Alpha Pilot Race in United States later in 2019.
• Team ‘Dhaksha’ of Centre for Aerospace Research, MIT Campus, Anna University in Chennai won the first place in the ‘surveillance hybrid design’ category.
• Dhaksha’ has already performed several missions for surveillance for disaster management during the 2015 Chennai floods.

BEL Launched Atmospheric Water Generator safe Drinking Water, Straight From the Air

• Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) unveiled the Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG), an innovative solution to meet the ever-increasing need for drinking water worldwide.
• Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, inaugurated the AWG in the presence of, Chairman and Managing Director BELShri MV Gowtama, Directors and other senior officers of BEL.
• BEL’s Atmospheric Water Generator can be used to generate water straight from the humidity present in the atmosphere. It uses heat exchange for condensing the atmospheric moisture to produce pure, safe and clean potable water.
• It comes with a Mineralisation Unit, which is used to add minerals which are required to make the water potable.
• It is configurable in static and mobile (vehicular) versions and is available in 30 litres/day, 100 litres/day, 500 litres/day and 1,000 litres/day capacities and can be used to provide drinking water in community centres and public places.
• It is being manufactured by BEL in collaboration with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-IICT) and MAITHRI, a start-up company based in Hyderabad and was on display at theBEL stall at Hall-E at Aero India 2019.

HAL signed an MoU with CPWD

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for the execution of the stage 2 works of Infrastructure development works at its Green Field Helicopter factory in Tumakuru,Karnataka at the Aero India 2019 event.
• The MoU was signed by Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Complex Shri GVS Bhaskar and Chief Project Manager (CPM), HAL project zone, CPWD Shri Rajesh Jainin the presence of Chairman and Managing Director, HAL  Shri R Madhavan.

About Indian Air Force (IAF)
♦ Chief – Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh
♦ Headquarters – New Delhi
♦ Founded – 8th October 1932
About Indian Army
♦ Chief – General Bipin Rawat
♦ Headquarters – New Delhi
♦ Founded – 1st April 1895